Cast-iron caisson



UNITE S ns rar orrron.

JAS. P. DUFFEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAST-IRON CAISSON.

To all whom fit 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Janus PHILIP DUIFEY, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Bracing h/Ietallic Boxes to be Used in the construction of Piers, Breakwaters, Milldams, Levees, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1, is a side elevation of two boxes showing the braces and the rods which connect the braces and boxes. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of ditto.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the two figures.

The nature of my invention consists in bracing metallic boxes by a series of diagonal braces meeting at a point about the center of the box, and connecting the braces by a series of rods having flanges upon each end and so attached to the braces that they form a continuous rod passing through the center of the boxes and the point or plate where the braces meet, thus strengthening the braces, and forming strong and durable boxes to be used for the construction of piers, leevees, breakwaters. et cetera.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the method of construction and the application of the same.

A, A, Fig. 1, represent two metallic boxes of rectangular form, each box has series of braces B, eight are represented to each box in the drawings. I do not confine myself to the exact number of braces however nor to any particular shape of boxes, although the rectangular form would perhaps be most generally used. There are in the drawings four braces at the upper part of each box and four at the lower part projecting from t-he sides of the box two from each side and meeting at about the center, there 'is a square plate C, at the center or at the point where t-he braces are joined or meet, see Fig. 2, and dotted lines in Fig. 1, on these square plates both on the upper and under sides are bolted fianches D, having the rods E, attached to them as seen by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the flanches of the rods being bolted to the plates C,

the rods E, support the braces and also connect the boxes. The rods E thus conlnected to the plate C, form a continuous support to the braces, one rod being immediately over the other. Each box and its braces are to be in one casting or in other words each box and its braces are cast together forming one piece.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 1, that the upper box is somewhatsmaller than the lower one, and fits a short distance within it, screw bolts passing through the sides of the two boxes securing them together. Any number of boxes may thus be attached, each box fitting a short distance in the one immediately beneath it.

By the above arrangement the pressure upon the boxes is equally distributed throughout, a strong and durable pier, breakwater, levee or other structure of a like kind may be made with them.

The boxes are to be filled with masonry in cases where required and the lower flanch G, Fig. 1, will be embedded in the earth which prevents the displacement of the lower boxes.

The outer ends of the braces may project a short distance beyond the sides of the boxes, see Fig. 1. These may overlap or match in the ends of the braces of adjoining boxes and screw bolts pass through them thus securing the several boxes firmly together.

The boxes are to be cast of any required size, that the nature of the structure may require.

It would be useless to enumerate the different kinds of structures for which the boxes may be employed, light houses, and

railroad foundations may be added to those which have already been mentioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The method of bracing rectangular or other shaped metallic boxes by means of the diagonal braces B, and rods E, the braces and rods being arranged in the manner substantially as set forth.

JAS. I. DUFFEY.

Witnesses:

II. O. BLAIR, SAML. G. HENDEL. 

